THE OPENING TIP
Indiana will wrap up regular season play at home in Assembly Hall against Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on Big Ten Network with Kevin Lee and Debbie Antonelli on the call. The contest can also be heard on the IU Radio Network with Greg Murray broadcasting.
Indiana (19-10, 11-6) vs. Penn State (11-17, 6-11)
Saturday, Feb. 27 • 4 p.m. ET
Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Ind.
Television: Big Ten Network or BTN2Go
Radio: IU Radio Network (Greg Murray)
FAN APPRECIATION DAY: Buy 1 Get 1 tickets, First 500 fans receive FREE PIZZA, First 1,000 receive #IUWBB Trading Cards
DID YOU KNOW?
• Indiana and Penn State are meeting for the first time this season on Saturday and it marks the first visit to Bloomington from PSU in two seasons, the last coming in a Lady Lion 71-63 win on Feb. 13, 2014.
• Indiana enters Saturday's game tied for fourth place in the Big Ten standings with Minnesota and one game behind third place Michigan State. IU can earn as high as a No. 3 seed in next week's Big Ten Tournament and as low as a No. 5 seed.
• Lyndsay Leikem will play her final regular season game in Assembly Hall on Saturday as the senior will graduate with degrees in criminal justice and psychology in three years.
• Indiana's 19 wins this season ties for the most regular season victories in program history and the school's most regular season triumphs since the 1997-98 season.
• IU's 11 Big Ten victories tie for the second-most regular season conference wins in school history and the most since 2008-09 and marks the fifth time ever that an IU team has won at least 11 conference games.
• The Hoosiers are a perfect 13-0 in games played in Assembly Hall, the best home start in program history as IU is the only team in the Big Ten with an unblemished home record this season and is just one of 17 teams nationally without a home defeat (as of Feb. 25).
• Indiana leads the country in free throws made (465) and is outscoring opponents 465-267 (+198) fron the free throw line this season.
• IU shot 51.9 percent from the field at Nebraska, marking the eighth time Indiana has shot over 50 percent in a game this year, the most games of shooting better than 50 percent in a single year for an Indiana team since doing so eight times in 1997-98.
• Indiana has defeated three ranked opponents this season, tying for the most wins over ranked foes in a single regular season in program history.
• This year marks the fourth time in program history and the first time in 18 years that Indiana has defeated three ranked opponents during regular season play. IU downed three ranked teams during the regular season schedule previously during 1985-86, 1993-94 and 1997-98.
• Tyra Buss leads the Hoosiers in scoring (19.1 ppg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (2.2 spg) as she has tallied 555 points this season to rank seventh on Indiana's single season scoring list.
• Buss has totaled 917 points in her two seasons at IU, one of only two players in program history to score at least that amount in freshman and sophomore seasons played at Indiana. She needs only three points to break the Hoosier record for scoring in first two years played.
• Buss also needs only seven more made free throws to set the school record for most free throws in a single season, she has hit 181 this year, the second-most made in the country this year.
• Alexis Gassion tied her career high with 22 points in the win at Nebraska last time out with six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block. Gassion has scored in double figures in each of the last six games and has averaged 14.7 points per game during that stretch.
• Amanda Cahill has nine double-doubles on the season, the most by an Indiana player in a single year since 2008-09. For the year she is averaging 14.6 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game.
THE COACHES
Indiana
Teri Moren
Career Record: 233-156 (13th year)
Indiana Record: 34-26 (2nd year)
Penn State
Coquese Washington
Career Record: 159-122 (9th year)
Penn State Record: 159-122 (9th year)
PENN STATE AT A GLANCE
Penn State has won two of its last three games and is coming off a 81-68 home win over Iowa on Feb. 27. The Lady Lions rank in the top three in the Big Ten in steals as team with 8.5 thefts per game. Teniya Page paces PSU offensively with 15.4 points per game while shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. She is also the team leader in assists (4.0 apg). Brianna Banks adds 13.7 points per contest as Lindsey Spann pours in 13.3 points per game. Spann will look to launch it from deep as she leads the team in 3-point field goals made on the year (60). Kaliyah Mitchell adds 9.8 points per games as Peyton Whitted tallies 9.0 per contests. Whitted brings in 8.1 rebounds per game to lead PSU.
HOOSIERS TIE FOR MOST REGULAR SEASON WINS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
With the win at Nebraska on Wednesday, Indiana improved to 19-10 on the year to tie for the most regular season victories in program history. It is the fourth time in school history that IU has won 19 regular season contests (1980-81, 1993-94, 1997-98). The program record for most overall victories (including Big Ten Tournament and postseason games) is 21 (5 times).
MOST BIG TEN VICTORIES IN SEVEN YEARS
Indiana currently sits in a fourth-place tie in the Big Ten standings with Minnesota with an 11-6 conference record with one regular season contest left to play. The 11 league wins are the program's most since 2008-09 and ties for the second-most Big Ten wins in a single season in school history. It is only the fifth time ever that IU has won at least 11 conference contests. Only one Hoosier team has won more than 11 Big Ten games in school history and that was the Big Ten Championship team of 1982-83 that went 15-3 in league play.
WHAT'S AT STAKE THIS WEEKEND
Coming into the final regular season game of the season, a number of scenarios are at stake for the Hoosiers. With being tied for fourth place with Minnesota and trailing Michigan State by a game for third place, Big Ten Tournament seeding implications are on the line in the final weekend of conference play.
The top four seeds of the conference tournament receive a double bye into the quarterfinals of the tourney to play on Friday, March 4. An IU win over Penn State is the only way the Hoosiers could earn a top four seed. A loss would make Indiana a No. 5 seed. Outcomes from Michigan State and Minnesota will determine where IU would get seeded if Indiana were to pull off a win over PSU. MSU hosts Ohio State on Saturday as the Gophers play at Maryland on Sunday.
Heading into the weekend...
An Indiana win, Michigan State loss, Minnesota win = No. 3 seed for Indiana
An Indiana win, Michigan State loss, Minnesota loss = No. 3 seed for Indiana
An Indiana win, Michigan State win, Minnesota loss = No. 4 seed for Indiana
An Indiana win, Michigan State win, Minnesota win = No. 5 seed for Indiana
An Indiana loss = No. 5 seed for Indiana
MOST ROAD BIG TEN WINS SINCE 2008-09
Indiana picked up its third Big Ten road victory on Wednesday at Nebraska, marking the program's most conference road regular season road wins in a single year since 2008-09. IU won five Big Ten contests on the road that season.
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF ASSEMBLY HALL
Indiana is a perfect 13-0 so far this season in games played inside of Assembly Hall, marking the best home start ever in program history. The Hoosiers are the only team in the Big Ten to have yet to lose at home this season and one of just 17 teams nationally without a home loss (as of Feb. 25). Home wins this year have been highlighted by eight Big Ten victories, knocking off two ranked opponents, winning two games in the Preseason WNIT and defeating Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
HOOSIER EFFICIENCY
Indiana shot 51.9 percent from the field in the win at Nebraska on Feb. 24. It marked the eighth time this season that IU has shot 50 percent or better from the field in a game. That is the most games of shooting 50 percent or better for an IU team in a single year since the Hoosiers shot 50-plus percent in eight games during the 1997-98 season.
THE WHEELS ON THE BUSS GO ROUND
Tyra Buss continues to excel for the Hoosiers in 2015-16. The sophomore has scored 555 points this season to sit seventh on IU's single-season scoring list. In her first two years combined, Buss has scored 917 career points to become just the third player in program history to ever eclipse the 900-point mark in freshman and sophomore seasons played at IU. She needs just three points to set a new high mark in first two years played.
With her 22 points at Nebraska, Buss has scored in double figures in every game this season and in 33 games consecutively dating back to last year, making her the first IU player with such a streak since Quacy Barnes scored in double digits in 37 consecutive games between the end of 1996-97 season and the start of 1997-98. Buss leads Indiana in scoring (19.1 ppg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (2.2 spg) while playing 37.5 minutes per game (3rd in B1G, 13th nationally) and 1087 minutes played total (1st in B1G, 1st nationally). She also adds 5.2 rebounds per game as she's tallied 20 or more points in 14 contests.
In three games this year, Buss has achieved a double-double and just missed another in the win over Minnesota on Feb. 18. She now has four career double-double performances. Against the Gophers, her stat line read: 27 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals and 8-of-13 shooting.
Buss leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally in free throws made (181) and attempted (235). Her 181 free throws made is 42 more than the second-best total in the Big Ten (Kelsey Mitchell, OSU and Aerial Powers, MSU - 139). With her six free throws made at Nebraska, Buss is now second in program history for most free throws made in a single season. Her 235 free throw attempts are also second best in Indiana history for most attempts in a single season.
THE 90s ARE BACK
With Indiana's 93-79 triumph over Minnesota on Feb. 18, it marked the third time this year that Indiana had tallied 90 or more points in a game (90 vs. Austin Peay, 91 at Northwestern). It is only the sixth time in program history that an IU team has scored at least 90 points in three or more games in a single year (last was 1995-96). Indiana's two Big Ten games with 90-plus points marks only the third time in school history that the Hoosiers have piled on at least 90 against a conference opponent twice in the same season, the last coming during the 1996-97 season.
COMEBACK KIDS
Seven times this season, Indiana has faced late second-half deficits before overcoming them to earn a victory, including five games where IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana has outscored Big Ten opponents 361-290 (+71) in the fourth quarter this year.
• Feb. 4 vs. Iowa*: The Hoosiers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half before rallying to down the Hawkeyes in Assembly Hall, 79-74. Iowa led Indiana, 54-37, with under four minutes to play in the third quarter. IU outscored the Hawkeyes 42-20 in the game's final 13:19 to take the win. Trailing by 11 heading into the fourth quarter, IU hit 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) field goals in the final period, including four 3-pointers without a miss, to outscore Iowa 32-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
• Jan. 24 at No. 20 Northwestern*: Indiana faced a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter on the road, 65-58. IU used a 12-2 run while shooting 12-of-16 (75 percent) in the final period to outscore the Wildcats 33-19 in the final 10 minutes to earn the program's first road Big Ten victory in the Teri Moren era.
• Jan. 20 vs. Illinois*: Indiana trailed by 11 with 7:11 to play in the fourth quarter, 62-51. The Hoosiers roared back, outscoring the Illini 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to close the game in the final 3:09. Karlee McBride nailed the go-ahead 3-point field goal with 1:16 to play to put IU in front for good.
• Jan. 3 vs. Michigan*: IU trailed by nine with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, five Hoosiers scored as part of a 12-0 Indiana run to take a 61-58 lead late in regulation. Michigan's Katelynn Flaherty hit a 3-point field goal to force OT before IU outscored the Wolverines 16-8 in the extra period. Indiana scored 12 of its OT points from the free throw line, including the last 10. The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 28-11 in the game's final 10:48.
• Dec. 11 vs. Samford: The Hoosiers trailed by 11 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. IU went on a 17-2 run over a span of 3:56, scoring 13-straight during the stretch to take a four-point lead. In overtime, Indiana outscored Samford 13-4, thanks in part to an 8-0 run by Amanda Cahill by herself to start the OT period.
• Dec. 2 vs. Georgia Tech: Indiana trailed by five with 8:36 to play in the game. IU outscored GT 20-6 in the final 6:37 and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game.
• Nov. 17 vs. then-No. 24 Chattanooga*: IU trailed by four with 1:44 left in the third quarter and was behind heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored the Mocs 19-6 in the fourth quarter to take the win.
*Indiana trailed heading into the fourth quarter
CLIMBING TO THE CA-HILL TOP
Amanda Cahill had 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range in the win at Nebraska. For the year, Cahill has nine double-doubles, the most by an IU player in a single year since 2008-09 (Whitney Thomas, 10).
In Big Ten games only, Cahill is averaging 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, making her one of only six players in the conference to average those numbers in league play so far. For the year, she is averaging 14.6 points (T-21st in B1G) and a team-leading 8.3 rebounds per game (7th) with 1.3 steals per contest. She's shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 39.8 percent (11th) from 3-point range.
Cahill has scored in double figures in all but three games this year, including 21 of the last 22, and has had seven or more rebounds in every game but three.
REBOUNDS = Ws
In eight of the last 10 games (at Northwestern, Rutgers, Iowa, Nebraska, at Illinois, Minnesota, at Iowa, at Nebraska), the Hoosiers have outrebounded the opposition. Fifteen times total this year, the Hoosiers have outrebounded an opponent. IU is currently 13-2 in games in which it outrebounds its foe.
CASHING IN ON THE FREE ONES
Indiana leads the Big Ten in free throws made (465) and attempted (635) and ranks first nationally in free throw makes and fourth in attempts. IU is outscoring opponents 465-267 (+198) from the charity stripe so far this season, a plus-6.8 margin of free throws made per game. The Hoosiers have made more free throws than opponents have attempted (402) while shooting 73.2 percent as a team from the line.
Against Minnesota on Feb. 18, Indiana attempted 42 free throws to tie for the most free throw attempted in a Big Ten game in program history. IU also attempted 42 from the line in its win over Michigan on Jan. 3, hitting 32, also a school Big Ten record. IU is now 6-0 when it gets to the free throw line at least 30 times in a game. In the win over Rutgers on Jan. 27, Indiana shot a season-best 90 percent from the charity stripe, nailing 18-of-20 free throws.
HIT THE GASSION PEDAL
Junior Alexis Gassion has scored in double figures in each of the last six games. During that stretch, Gassion has averaged 14.7 points per game during that span while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 37.5 from 3-point range and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. Gassion has scored in double figures in 20 games this year and is averaging 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on the season.
At Nebraska, Gassion tied her career high with 22 points with six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block while shooting 7-of-14 overall. At Iowa, Gassion scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting with four assists and a steal. In the win over Minnesota on Feb. 18, not only did Gassion have the task of guarding the Big Ten's leading scorer in Rachel Banham, she also tallied 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
JENN FROM THE BLOCK
Jenn Anderson has come around after missing some time in preseason due to injury as she has started in each of the last 23 games and is shooting 57.1 percent from the field so far this year, ranking fifth in that category in the Big Ten.
Anderson achieved her first career double-double at Iowa finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Hawkeyes on Feb. 21. She was instrumental in IU's win over Minnesota on Feb. 18 as the junior tied her season high of 18 points, shooting 6-of-7 from the field with five rebounds and a steal.
As a sophomore, Anderson ranked fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage in 2014-15, shooting 56.0 percent. Her field goal percentage was the highest percentage by an IU player for a single year since 1997-98. She appeared in 30 games and made 28 starts last year while averaging 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Anderson also nailed 72.1 percent of her free throw attempts. From her freshman to sophomore year, Anderson saw major improvement in scoring (+4.5 ppg), field goal percentage (+10.2 percent), free throw percentage (+25 percent) as well as rebounds, steals and blocks.
KARLEE MCBUCKETS
Karlee McBride has started in each of the last 13 games and has scored in double figures in six of those contests. She has averaged 9.8 points per game during that stretch as the Hoosiers are 10-3 in games where McBride has started.
McBride has nailed two more 3-point field goals eight times in the last 13 games, including five with three or more 3-pointers. At Nebraska last time out, McBride nailed 4-of-6 3-point field goals for 12 points with a pair of steals.
Against No. 18 Michigan State on Jan. 13, the junior scored a season-high 17 points without missing a shot, going 5-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. It marked the first time an IU player had a perfect night shooting from the field since McBride herself went 6-of-6 from the field with three 3-pointers for 15 points as a sophomore against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 15, 2014.
Go Hoosiers!
http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2016/2/26/womens-basketball-iuwbb-game-30-preview-penn-state.aspx
Indiana will wrap up regular season play at home in Assembly Hall against Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on Big Ten Network with Kevin Lee and Debbie Antonelli on the call. The contest can also be heard on the IU Radio Network with Greg Murray broadcasting.
Indiana (19-10, 11-6) vs. Penn State (11-17, 6-11)
Saturday, Feb. 27 • 4 p.m. ET
Assembly Hall • Bloomington, Ind.
Television: Big Ten Network or BTN2Go
Radio: IU Radio Network (Greg Murray)
FAN APPRECIATION DAY: Buy 1 Get 1 tickets, First 500 fans receive FREE PIZZA, First 1,000 receive #IUWBB Trading Cards
DID YOU KNOW?
• Indiana and Penn State are meeting for the first time this season on Saturday and it marks the first visit to Bloomington from PSU in two seasons, the last coming in a Lady Lion 71-63 win on Feb. 13, 2014.
• Indiana enters Saturday's game tied for fourth place in the Big Ten standings with Minnesota and one game behind third place Michigan State. IU can earn as high as a No. 3 seed in next week's Big Ten Tournament and as low as a No. 5 seed.
• Lyndsay Leikem will play her final regular season game in Assembly Hall on Saturday as the senior will graduate with degrees in criminal justice and psychology in three years.
• Indiana's 19 wins this season ties for the most regular season victories in program history and the school's most regular season triumphs since the 1997-98 season.
• IU's 11 Big Ten victories tie for the second-most regular season conference wins in school history and the most since 2008-09 and marks the fifth time ever that an IU team has won at least 11 conference games.
• The Hoosiers are a perfect 13-0 in games played in Assembly Hall, the best home start in program history as IU is the only team in the Big Ten with an unblemished home record this season and is just one of 17 teams nationally without a home defeat (as of Feb. 25).
• Indiana leads the country in free throws made (465) and is outscoring opponents 465-267 (+198) fron the free throw line this season.
• IU shot 51.9 percent from the field at Nebraska, marking the eighth time Indiana has shot over 50 percent in a game this year, the most games of shooting better than 50 percent in a single year for an Indiana team since doing so eight times in 1997-98.
• Indiana has defeated three ranked opponents this season, tying for the most wins over ranked foes in a single regular season in program history.
• This year marks the fourth time in program history and the first time in 18 years that Indiana has defeated three ranked opponents during regular season play. IU downed three ranked teams during the regular season schedule previously during 1985-86, 1993-94 and 1997-98.
• Tyra Buss leads the Hoosiers in scoring (19.1 ppg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (2.2 spg) as she has tallied 555 points this season to rank seventh on Indiana's single season scoring list.
• Buss has totaled 917 points in her two seasons at IU, one of only two players in program history to score at least that amount in freshman and sophomore seasons played at Indiana. She needs only three points to break the Hoosier record for scoring in first two years played.
• Buss also needs only seven more made free throws to set the school record for most free throws in a single season, she has hit 181 this year, the second-most made in the country this year.
• Alexis Gassion tied her career high with 22 points in the win at Nebraska last time out with six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block. Gassion has scored in double figures in each of the last six games and has averaged 14.7 points per game during that stretch.
• Amanda Cahill has nine double-doubles on the season, the most by an Indiana player in a single year since 2008-09. For the year she is averaging 14.6 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game.
THE COACHES
Indiana
Teri Moren
Career Record: 233-156 (13th year)
Indiana Record: 34-26 (2nd year)
Penn State
Coquese Washington
Career Record: 159-122 (9th year)
Penn State Record: 159-122 (9th year)
PENN STATE AT A GLANCE
Penn State has won two of its last three games and is coming off a 81-68 home win over Iowa on Feb. 27. The Lady Lions rank in the top three in the Big Ten in steals as team with 8.5 thefts per game. Teniya Page paces PSU offensively with 15.4 points per game while shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. She is also the team leader in assists (4.0 apg). Brianna Banks adds 13.7 points per contest as Lindsey Spann pours in 13.3 points per game. Spann will look to launch it from deep as she leads the team in 3-point field goals made on the year (60). Kaliyah Mitchell adds 9.8 points per games as Peyton Whitted tallies 9.0 per contests. Whitted brings in 8.1 rebounds per game to lead PSU.
HOOSIERS TIE FOR MOST REGULAR SEASON WINS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
With the win at Nebraska on Wednesday, Indiana improved to 19-10 on the year to tie for the most regular season victories in program history. It is the fourth time in school history that IU has won 19 regular season contests (1980-81, 1993-94, 1997-98). The program record for most overall victories (including Big Ten Tournament and postseason games) is 21 (5 times).
MOST BIG TEN VICTORIES IN SEVEN YEARS
Indiana currently sits in a fourth-place tie in the Big Ten standings with Minnesota with an 11-6 conference record with one regular season contest left to play. The 11 league wins are the program's most since 2008-09 and ties for the second-most Big Ten wins in a single season in school history. It is only the fifth time ever that IU has won at least 11 conference contests. Only one Hoosier team has won more than 11 Big Ten games in school history and that was the Big Ten Championship team of 1982-83 that went 15-3 in league play.
WHAT'S AT STAKE THIS WEEKEND
Coming into the final regular season game of the season, a number of scenarios are at stake for the Hoosiers. With being tied for fourth place with Minnesota and trailing Michigan State by a game for third place, Big Ten Tournament seeding implications are on the line in the final weekend of conference play.
The top four seeds of the conference tournament receive a double bye into the quarterfinals of the tourney to play on Friday, March 4. An IU win over Penn State is the only way the Hoosiers could earn a top four seed. A loss would make Indiana a No. 5 seed. Outcomes from Michigan State and Minnesota will determine where IU would get seeded if Indiana were to pull off a win over PSU. MSU hosts Ohio State on Saturday as the Gophers play at Maryland on Sunday.
Heading into the weekend...
An Indiana win, Michigan State loss, Minnesota win = No. 3 seed for Indiana
An Indiana win, Michigan State loss, Minnesota loss = No. 3 seed for Indiana
An Indiana win, Michigan State win, Minnesota loss = No. 4 seed for Indiana
An Indiana win, Michigan State win, Minnesota win = No. 5 seed for Indiana
An Indiana loss = No. 5 seed for Indiana
MOST ROAD BIG TEN WINS SINCE 2008-09
Indiana picked up its third Big Ten road victory on Wednesday at Nebraska, marking the program's most conference road regular season road wins in a single year since 2008-09. IU won five Big Ten contests on the road that season.
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES OF ASSEMBLY HALL
Indiana is a perfect 13-0 so far this season in games played inside of Assembly Hall, marking the best home start ever in program history. The Hoosiers are the only team in the Big Ten to have yet to lose at home this season and one of just 17 teams nationally without a home loss (as of Feb. 25). Home wins this year have been highlighted by eight Big Ten victories, knocking off two ranked opponents, winning two games in the Preseason WNIT and defeating Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
HOOSIER EFFICIENCY
Indiana shot 51.9 percent from the field in the win at Nebraska on Feb. 24. It marked the eighth time this season that IU has shot 50 percent or better from the field in a game. That is the most games of shooting 50 percent or better for an IU team in a single year since the Hoosiers shot 50-plus percent in eight games during the 1997-98 season.
THE WHEELS ON THE BUSS GO ROUND
Tyra Buss continues to excel for the Hoosiers in 2015-16. The sophomore has scored 555 points this season to sit seventh on IU's single-season scoring list. In her first two years combined, Buss has scored 917 career points to become just the third player in program history to ever eclipse the 900-point mark in freshman and sophomore seasons played at IU. She needs just three points to set a new high mark in first two years played.
With her 22 points at Nebraska, Buss has scored in double figures in every game this season and in 33 games consecutively dating back to last year, making her the first IU player with such a streak since Quacy Barnes scored in double digits in 37 consecutive games between the end of 1996-97 season and the start of 1997-98. Buss leads Indiana in scoring (19.1 ppg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (2.2 spg) while playing 37.5 minutes per game (3rd in B1G, 13th nationally) and 1087 minutes played total (1st in B1G, 1st nationally). She also adds 5.2 rebounds per game as she's tallied 20 or more points in 14 contests.
In three games this year, Buss has achieved a double-double and just missed another in the win over Minnesota on Feb. 18. She now has four career double-double performances. Against the Gophers, her stat line read: 27 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals and 8-of-13 shooting.
Buss leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally in free throws made (181) and attempted (235). Her 181 free throws made is 42 more than the second-best total in the Big Ten (Kelsey Mitchell, OSU and Aerial Powers, MSU - 139). With her six free throws made at Nebraska, Buss is now second in program history for most free throws made in a single season. Her 235 free throw attempts are also second best in Indiana history for most attempts in a single season.
THE 90s ARE BACK
With Indiana's 93-79 triumph over Minnesota on Feb. 18, it marked the third time this year that Indiana had tallied 90 or more points in a game (90 vs. Austin Peay, 91 at Northwestern). It is only the sixth time in program history that an IU team has scored at least 90 points in three or more games in a single year (last was 1995-96). Indiana's two Big Ten games with 90-plus points marks only the third time in school history that the Hoosiers have piled on at least 90 against a conference opponent twice in the same season, the last coming during the 1996-97 season.
COMEBACK KIDS
Seven times this season, Indiana has faced late second-half deficits before overcoming them to earn a victory, including five games where IU trailed heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana has outscored Big Ten opponents 361-290 (+71) in the fourth quarter this year.
• Feb. 4 vs. Iowa*: The Hoosiers trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half before rallying to down the Hawkeyes in Assembly Hall, 79-74. Iowa led Indiana, 54-37, with under four minutes to play in the third quarter. IU outscored the Hawkeyes 42-20 in the game's final 13:19 to take the win. Trailing by 11 heading into the fourth quarter, IU hit 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) field goals in the final period, including four 3-pointers without a miss, to outscore Iowa 32-16 in the fourth quarter alone.
• Jan. 24 at No. 20 Northwestern*: Indiana faced a seven-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter on the road, 65-58. IU used a 12-2 run while shooting 12-of-16 (75 percent) in the final period to outscore the Wildcats 33-19 in the final 10 minutes to earn the program's first road Big Ten victory in the Teri Moren era.
• Jan. 20 vs. Illinois*: Indiana trailed by 11 with 7:11 to play in the fourth quarter, 62-51. The Hoosiers roared back, outscoring the Illini 17-4 in the game's final 6:55, including an 8-0 run to close the game in the final 3:09. Karlee McBride nailed the go-ahead 3-point field goal with 1:16 to play to put IU in front for good.
• Jan. 3 vs. Michigan*: IU trailed by nine with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, five Hoosiers scored as part of a 12-0 Indiana run to take a 61-58 lead late in regulation. Michigan's Katelynn Flaherty hit a 3-point field goal to force OT before IU outscored the Wolverines 16-8 in the extra period. Indiana scored 12 of its OT points from the free throw line, including the last 10. The Hoosiers outscored Michigan 28-11 in the game's final 10:48.
• Dec. 11 vs. Samford: The Hoosiers trailed by 11 with 4:00 left in the third quarter. IU went on a 17-2 run over a span of 3:56, scoring 13-straight during the stretch to take a four-point lead. In overtime, Indiana outscored Samford 13-4, thanks in part to an 8-0 run by Amanda Cahill by herself to start the OT period.
• Dec. 2 vs. Georgia Tech: Indiana trailed by five with 8:36 to play in the game. IU outscored GT 20-6 in the final 6:37 and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the final 4:05 of the game.
• Nov. 17 vs. then-No. 24 Chattanooga*: IU trailed by four with 1:44 left in the third quarter and was behind heading into the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored the Mocs 19-6 in the fourth quarter to take the win.
*Indiana trailed heading into the fourth quarter
CLIMBING TO THE CA-HILL TOP
Amanda Cahill had 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range in the win at Nebraska. For the year, Cahill has nine double-doubles, the most by an IU player in a single year since 2008-09 (Whitney Thomas, 10).
In Big Ten games only, Cahill is averaging 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, making her one of only six players in the conference to average those numbers in league play so far. For the year, she is averaging 14.6 points (T-21st in B1G) and a team-leading 8.3 rebounds per game (7th) with 1.3 steals per contest. She's shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 39.8 percent (11th) from 3-point range.
Cahill has scored in double figures in all but three games this year, including 21 of the last 22, and has had seven or more rebounds in every game but three.
REBOUNDS = Ws
In eight of the last 10 games (at Northwestern, Rutgers, Iowa, Nebraska, at Illinois, Minnesota, at Iowa, at Nebraska), the Hoosiers have outrebounded the opposition. Fifteen times total this year, the Hoosiers have outrebounded an opponent. IU is currently 13-2 in games in which it outrebounds its foe.
CASHING IN ON THE FREE ONES
Indiana leads the Big Ten in free throws made (465) and attempted (635) and ranks first nationally in free throw makes and fourth in attempts. IU is outscoring opponents 465-267 (+198) from the charity stripe so far this season, a plus-6.8 margin of free throws made per game. The Hoosiers have made more free throws than opponents have attempted (402) while shooting 73.2 percent as a team from the line.
Against Minnesota on Feb. 18, Indiana attempted 42 free throws to tie for the most free throw attempted in a Big Ten game in program history. IU also attempted 42 from the line in its win over Michigan on Jan. 3, hitting 32, also a school Big Ten record. IU is now 6-0 when it gets to the free throw line at least 30 times in a game. In the win over Rutgers on Jan. 27, Indiana shot a season-best 90 percent from the charity stripe, nailing 18-of-20 free throws.
HIT THE GASSION PEDAL
Junior Alexis Gassion has scored in double figures in each of the last six games. During that stretch, Gassion has averaged 14.7 points per game during that span while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 37.5 from 3-point range and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. Gassion has scored in double figures in 20 games this year and is averaging 11.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game on the season.
At Nebraska, Gassion tied her career high with 22 points with six assists, five rebounds, two steals and a block while shooting 7-of-14 overall. At Iowa, Gassion scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting with four assists and a steal. In the win over Minnesota on Feb. 18, not only did Gassion have the task of guarding the Big Ten's leading scorer in Rachel Banham, she also tallied 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
JENN FROM THE BLOCK
Jenn Anderson has come around after missing some time in preseason due to injury as she has started in each of the last 23 games and is shooting 57.1 percent from the field so far this year, ranking fifth in that category in the Big Ten.
Anderson achieved her first career double-double at Iowa finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Hawkeyes on Feb. 21. She was instrumental in IU's win over Minnesota on Feb. 18 as the junior tied her season high of 18 points, shooting 6-of-7 from the field with five rebounds and a steal.
As a sophomore, Anderson ranked fourth in the Big Ten in field goal percentage in 2014-15, shooting 56.0 percent. Her field goal percentage was the highest percentage by an IU player for a single year since 1997-98. She appeared in 30 games and made 28 starts last year while averaging 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Anderson also nailed 72.1 percent of her free throw attempts. From her freshman to sophomore year, Anderson saw major improvement in scoring (+4.5 ppg), field goal percentage (+10.2 percent), free throw percentage (+25 percent) as well as rebounds, steals and blocks.
KARLEE MCBUCKETS
Karlee McBride has started in each of the last 13 games and has scored in double figures in six of those contests. She has averaged 9.8 points per game during that stretch as the Hoosiers are 10-3 in games where McBride has started.
McBride has nailed two more 3-point field goals eight times in the last 13 games, including five with three or more 3-pointers. At Nebraska last time out, McBride nailed 4-of-6 3-point field goals for 12 points with a pair of steals.
Against No. 18 Michigan State on Jan. 13, the junior scored a season-high 17 points without missing a shot, going 5-of-5 from the field, 3-of-3 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. It marked the first time an IU player had a perfect night shooting from the field since McBride herself went 6-of-6 from the field with three 3-pointers for 15 points as a sophomore against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 15, 2014.
Go Hoosiers!
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